Nick Mohammed: Number Cruncher

Nick Mohammed is more than just a character comedian; his latest show, Mr Swallow 2012, displays some serious mathematical genius. From guessing your age, to solving a rubix cube, to pulling off a Countdown-style number heist with jaw dropping consequences, we just had to put him to the test. 

Every year countless punters wonder around Edinburgh not knowing, for example, how many mimes are flyering at any one point, or the quantity of Romeo and Juliet being simultaneously performed in C Venues at 2.30pm. We boiled such numerical musings down, streamlined them into a quickfire mathematical obstacle course, and invited Mohammed to try and complete it. Sure, the answers can't be verified but who needs cold hard fact when you have estimations from a mathematical genius? 

The number of modern adaptations of classic plays put on by students per Fringe 

"Hmm, I'd probably say around the 178 mark. You have to understand that is a complete guess. It could easily be 179. No, I'm going to stick to my guns (weird phrase isn't it?!) and settle on 178. There – done."

Nick's estimation: 178

The number of instances per week the average person snaps and behaves violently towards a flyerer

"Well I suspect the number amplifies as the festival nears the end and so I've averaged this out somewhat so that it's not bias towards either end of the month."

Nick's estimation: 20 

The number of times the average person goes to the wrong Assembly

I genuinely don't even know how many different Assembly venues there are now. Last time I checked the Fringe Guide it was around the 1,083,103 mark. They're doing really well.

Nick's estimation: 6 

The number of shows an average performer sees on his day off

The number promised is inversely proportional to the number physically attended. I've tried to avoid the dilemma by not having a day off at all this year. But if I did have a day off, I'd promise to see 4 shows I reckon. All of which clash – keeps everyone on their toes. 

Nick's estimation: 4

How many litres of condensation/drippy goo will be inhaled by the average audience member/performer at the Underbelly on Cowgate? 

GROSS. 

Nick's estimation: Without doubt a minimum of 0.75 litres

But that's not all. Using his super-sharp maths skills, Mohammed takes things a step further. Using these answers to make up the sum total of Fringe shows on this year: 2,695. Can he do it? 

Nick gets it ALMOST spot-on. Consider the Fringe well and truly calculated.